How albinos are murdered in Africa

- Albinism is a genetic mutation affecting millions of people in Africa

- Discrimination and violence against albinos is widespread throughout the continent

- Many have been killed by ritualists for their body parts

Many have been ridiculed, maimed, mocked and even killed, while some have committed suicide because they were not accepted by their own people. This is an ongoing and silent trauma suffered by albinos in Africa.

Albinism is a genetic disorder characterised by a lack of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. It affects all racial types and ethnic groups. Worldwide, 1 in every 17-20,000 people is thought to be an albino, but the prevalence in Africa is much higher, with estimates for the continent ranging from 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 5,000.

The figure for Nigeria is estimated to be 1 in 5,000: that is over 3.5 million albinos.

Major health challenges

In reality, albinism cannot be cured, although those living with this condition can live a normal life with a long life span if they protect their eyes and skin from direct sunlight. The lack of pigment in the eyes means albinos are unable to see well in daylight.

And their skin needs to be protected at all times from burning by wearing clothes or at the very least applying sunscreen. Contrary to popular belief, albinos do not have pink eyes. They usually have blue, green, hazel and sometimes brown eyes. The appearance of pink eyes is caused in certain light by the reflection of the back of the eye via a pale iris. The albinos are susceptible to skin cancer and visual impairment.

According to some albinos, the maximum of their stay under the sun is 10 minutes and if more, their skin will burn which will eventually lead to skin cancer.

Another issue is visual impairment which they have to live with, but the appropriate sunglasses can be used. “I cannot see object far away from me until they move closer. Sometimes I see well with the aid of a medicated glasses,” Donald told NAIJ.com in Abuja. Skin cancer is the largest cause of early death among albinos.

Discrimination

Maria is one of many Africans who see albinism as a taboo and albinos as disgusting human beings. The albinos can rarely be seen participating openly in social events: rather, they keep with their own kind.

There are reports of men accusing their wives of infidelity following the birth of an albino, causing them to throw the child out of their home into the street. In fact, most albinos are born to non-albino parents.

Isaac Mwaura is the first Member of Parliament living with Albinism. Photo: Facebook

Mothers have been reported to have abandoned their albino babies at hospitals after giving birth.

The denial of basic amenities is one of the problems facing albinos in Africa. They often face the discriminatory denial of their rights to health, freedom of speech and movement, education and participation in social events.

Ordeal, torture and death

Most disturbing is that ritualists in Africa have turned albinos into wild animals, hunted for their body parts which are prized sources of potions in traditional medicine. In 2008, Vicky Ntetema a former BBC journalist from Tanzania published a report which revealed the use of albino parts in witchcraft and rituals.

People selling the body parts of albinos have been arrested in several African countries, with Tanzania recording the highest number of albino murders. There are reports in the southeastern parts of Africa of many albinos, children especially, disappearing without trace, apparently prey to kidnappers. In some rare cases culprits have been sentenced to death for killing albinos in Tanzania, Kenya and other parts of Africa.

Some have been successful in their chosen careers. They work as models, musicians, fashion designers, politicians, and advocates among other things. Salif Keita is a successful Malian albino musician and one of the most sought-after artistes on the continent. He set up a foundation to fight the stigma of albinism, and to provide medical care for those who suffer from skin cancer.

Justice Ngugi with her high school classmates. She says her experiences with discrimination are less severe compared to what many most people with albinism have gone through.

Justice Grace Mumbi Ngugi, a judge of the high court of Kenya, is one of the more successful albinos. She also advocates for the plight of albinos in East Africa.

“The situation may seem hopeless and depressing, but I believe the future is promising for people with albinism. We have a new Constitution that guarantees all Kenyans a right to health,” she told www.albinism.ohchr.org.

Meanwhile, the African Union has made resolutions on the prevention of attacks and discrimination against people with albinism, as has the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, meeting at its 54th ordinary session held from 22 October to November 5 in Banjul, The Gambia. Here is the link.

The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Chidi Odinkalu, condemned the discrimination in a chat with NAIJ.com. The discrimination and killings continue in Africa. The albinos are used for sacrifice and for witchcraft practices; they are forced by society to commune together.

In the light of this, what they need above all else is peoples’ compassion, empathy and understanding, rather than castigation, discrimination and use as objects for rituals.

Kenya has taken steps to improve the lives of people with albinism. There is an ongoing attempt to capture albinism into its laws on disability. Photo: Facebook